Methods and apparatus to deploy fiber optic based access networks

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/619,515, filed on Sep. 14, 2012, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DEPLOY FIBER OPTIC BASED ACCESS NETWORKS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,582,971, which arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/268,209, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,262, filed on Nov. 10, 2008, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DEPLOY FIBER OPTIC BASED ACCESS NETWORKS,” both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to access networks and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to deploy fiber optic based access networks.

BACKGROUND

Communication systems using fiber optic technologies are commonly utilized to provide high data rate communication services to customer premises. In some examples, a communication company and/or service provider installs a fiber optic cable between a central office (CO), a remote terminal (RT) or a serving area interface (SAI) and a customer premises to provide communication services to the customer premises. In other examples, a single fiber optic cable installed between a CO, RT or SAI and a pedestal is used to provide communication services from the pedestal to one or more customer premises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic illustration of an example fiber optic based access network constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an example manner of implementing a distributor for the example distributed DSLAM of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates an example manner of implementing an upstream communication interface module or a downstream optical communication interface module for the example distributor of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates an example process that may be carried out to install a fiber optic based access network.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A-5D</figref> illustrate example fiber optic based access networks that may result from the example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and apparatus to deploy fiber optic based access networks in brown field environments are disclosed. A disclosed example access network includes a first fiber optic cable segment to couple an optical access head-end to a first pedestal, the first fiber optic cable segment to transport user data associated with a plurality of subscribers served by the optical access head-end, a second fiber optic cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a second pedestal, the second fiber optic cable segment to transport a first portion of the user data associated with a first of the plurality of subscribers from the first pedestal to the second pedestal, the second fiber optic cable segment different from the first fiber optic cable segment, a drop cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a customer premises, the drop cable segment to transport a second portion of the user data associated with a second of the plurality of subscribers to the customer premises, the drop cable segment different from the first and second fiber optic cable segments, and a switch at the first pedestal to route the first portion of the user data between the first and second fiber optic cable segments and to route the second portion of the user data between the first fiber optic cable segment and the drop cable segment.

Another disclosed example access network includes an optical access head-end to implement communication services for respective ones of a plurality of subscribers, a first pedestal and a second pedestal. The first pedestal including a first communication interface module to communicatively couple the first pedestal to the optical access head-end via a first fiber optic cable segment, the first fiber optic cable segment to transport user data associated with the plurality of subscribers served by the optical access head-end, a second communication interface module to communicatively couple the first pedestal to a second fiber optic cable segment, the second fiber optic cable segment to transport a first portion of the user data, a third communication interface module to communicatively couple the first pedestal to a first customer premises and to transport a second portion of the user data associated with a first of the plurality of subscribers to the first customer premises, and a first switch to route the first portion of the user data between the first and second communication interface modules and to route the second portion of the user data between the first and third communication interface modules. The second pedestal including a fourth communication interface module to communicatively couple the first pedestal to the second pedestal via the second fiber optic cable segment, a fifth communication interface module to communicatively couple the second pedestal to a second customer premises and to transport a third portion of the user data associated with a second of the plurality of subscribers to the second customer premises, the second portion of the user data comprising the third portion of the user data, and a second switch to route the third portion of the user data between the fourth and fifth communication interface modules.

A disclosed example method to deploy a fiber optic based access network in a brown field environment includes receiving a first request for a first communication service to a first customer premises, installing a first fiber optic cable segment between an optical access head-end and a first pedestal associated with the first customer premises, the first fiber optic cable segment routed through a second pedestal geographically located between the optical access head-end and the first pedestal, installing a first distributor at the first pedestal to route first data between the first fiber optic cable segment and the first customer premises, receiving a second request for a second communication service to a second customer premises associated with the second pedestal, the second request received subsequent to the installation of the first fiber optic cable segment and the first distributor, splitting the first fiber optic cable segment at the second pedestal to form second and third fiber optic cable segments, and installing a second distributor at the second pedestal between the second and third fiber optic cable segments, the second distributor to route second data between the second fiber optic cable segment, the third fiber optic cable segment and the second customer premises.

A disclosed example apparatus includes a first interface module at a first pedestal to receive user data associated with a plurality of subscribers served by an optical access head-end via a first fiber optic cable segment, a second interface module at the first pedestal to transport a first portion of the user data to a second pedestal via a second fiber optic cable segment, the second fiber optic cable segment different from the first fiber optic cable segment, a third interface module at the first pedestal to transport a second portion of the user data associated with a first of the plurality of subscribers to a customer premises, and a switch at the first pedestal to route the first portion of the user data between the first and second communication interface modules and to route the second portion of the user data between the first and third communication interface modules.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates an example fiber optic based access network <b>100</b>. In the illustrated example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, an optical access head-end, such as a serving area interface (SAI) <b>105</b>, a remote terminal (RT) or a central office (CO), provides and/or implements communication services for one or more customer premises, two of which are designated at reference numerals <b>110</b> and <b>111</b>. Example services include, but are not limited to, telephone services, Internet-based services, data services, messaging services, instant messaging services, electronic mail (email) services, chat services, video services, video on demand services, audio services, and/or gaming services. While for ease of discussion the following examples are described with reference to the example SAI <b>105</b>, it will be understood that any type of optical access head-end could be used including, but not limited to, an RT or a CO.

The example SAI <b>105</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> provides the services to the example customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> via any number of interposed pedestals or aerial terminals, two of which are designated at reference numerals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b>. To implement the example access network <b>100</b>, the example SAI <b>105</b>, the example pedestal <b>115</b> and the example pedestal <b>116</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> are configured in a daisy-chain topology. In particular, a first fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b> is used to communicatively couple the example SAI <b>105</b> to the example pedestal <b>115</b>, and a second fiber optic cable segment <b>121</b> is used to communicatively couple the example pedestal <b>115</b> to the example pedestal <b>116</b>, and a third fiber optic cable segment <b>122</b> is used to communicatively couple the example pedestal <b>116</b> to another pedestal (not shown). The example fiber optic cable segments <b>120</b>-<b>122</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> are disjoint segments and/or portions of fiber optic cable, which collectively communicatively couple the SAI <b>105</b> to each of the pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b>. The example fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> transports user data associated with all of the subscribers served by the pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b>. The example fiber optic cable segment <b>121</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> transports user data associated with all of the subscribers served by the pedestal <b>116</b> and any additional pedestals. The example fiber optic cable segment <b>122</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> transports user data associated with all of the subscribers served by any additional pedestals served by the SAI <b>105</b> via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>. The example fiber optic cable segments <b>120</b>-<b>122</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be any number and/or type(s) of fiber optic cables. Example types of fiber optic cables include, but are not limited to, single-mode fiber, multi-mode fiber, multiple wavelength (λ) fiber, and/or cables that include more than one fiber. In some examples, a pedestal (for example, the pedestal <b>115</b>) may be communicatively coupled to one or more additional pedestals, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>117</b> via additional communication paths, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>123</b>. The example communication path <b>123</b> transports user data associated with all of the subscribers served via the pedestal <b>117</b>. Additionally or alternatively, a pedestal (for example, the pedestal <b>116</b>) may be communicatively coupled back to the SAI <b>105</b> via one or more additional fiber optic cable segments <b>150</b> thereby creating a fiber optic ring that, for example, encompasses the SAI <b>105</b> and the pedestals <b>115</b>-<b>117</b>. Such fiber optic rings may be used to maintain communication services to the pedestals <b>115</b>-<b>117</b> even when a fiber optic cable segment (for example, the segment <b>120</b>) is severed.

To route data between the fiber optic cable segments <b>120</b>-<b>123</b>, and between the pedestals <b>115</b>-<b>117</b> and the customer premises <b>110</b>-<b>111</b>, each of the example pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> implements a distributor <b>125</b>. As described below in connection with <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, each of the example distributors <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> includes a switch and/or hub <b>205</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) to repeat user data between and/or amongst any two of the fiber optic cable segments (for example, between the fiber optic cables <b>120</b> and <b>121</b>), and to add and/or drop user data associated with the customer premises that are directly communicatively coupled to the distributor <b>125</b>.

As described below in connection with <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref>, the example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> can be efficiently deployed and/or implemented in so called “brown field” environments. That is, in environments that already have existing customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> such that the installation of the fiber optic cable segments <b>120</b>-<b>122</b> could cause property disruptions (for example, torn up streets, yards, etc.), and/or require large expenditures of the time, labor and/or expense. Moreover, the example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> can be installed and/or deployed incrementally to only those customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> currently requesting high data rate communication services. In particular, by installing fiber optic cable to only those pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b> associated with customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> already requesting high data rate services, the example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> can be installed incrementally. By installing the access network <b>110</b> incrementally, the upfront costs associated with serving early adopters (for example, the first adopter) of high data rate communication services can be significantly reduced without limiting and/or restricting the ability to subsequently deploy and/or offer high data rate communication services to additional customer premises. The example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may, additionally or alternatively, be efficiently deployed and/or implemented in so called “green field” environments that do not already have existing customer premises.

In contrast, fiber optic based access networks are traditionally deployed in a brown field environment by first installing at least one fiber optic cable between each of the pedestals <b>115</b>,<b>116</b> and the SAI <b>105</b> regardless of whether any customer premises associated with any of the pedestals <b>115</b>, <b>116</b> have requested high data rate communication services. Thus, considerable expense, time, and/or labor must be expended simply to serve the very first customer. Moreover, to serve that first customer an entire neighborhood and/or street must undergo the disruption caused by the installation of all of the fiber optic cables.

To provide communication services via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>, the example SAI <b>105</b> includes any number and/or type(s) of optical interface modules, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>140</b>. The example optical interface module <b>140</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> receives user data from, for example, a communication server (not shown), forms one or more optical signals that represent the received user data, and provides the one or more optical signals to the pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b> via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>. Likewise, user data received from the pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b> via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b> is received by the optical interface module <b>140</b> and provided to the communication server.

The example pedestals <b>115</b> and <b>116</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> provide communication services to the customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> via respective drop wires and/or cables, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>135</b>. Example drop wires and/or cables <b>135</b> include, but are not limited to, a telephone line, a co-axial cable and/or a fiber optic cable. When a telephone line <b>135</b> is used, user data may be transported to and/or from the customer premises <b>110</b> using, for example, Ethernet-based and/or digital subscriber line (DSL) based signals implemented by a customer-premises equipment (CPE) device, a customer-premises transceiver, and/or a residential gateway <b>145</b> at the customer premises <b>110</b> and a CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) implemented at the distributor <b>125</b>. In the illustrated example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a single drop wire <b>135</b> is used to transport user data between the pedestal <b>115</b> and the customer premise <b>110</b>. However, multiple drop wires and/or bonding technologies could, additionally or alternatively, be used.

While an example access network <b>100</b> has been illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, one or more of the interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example distributors <b>125</b>, the example optical interface module <b>140</b> and/or the example transceiver <b>145</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example distributors <b>125</b>, the example optical interface module <b>140</b> and/or the example transceiver <b>145</b> may be implemented by one or more device(s), circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), etc. Further still, an access network may include interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/or devices instead of, or in addition to, those illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/or devices.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an example manner of implementing the example distributors <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. To communicatively couple the distributor <b>125</b> to a previous and/or upstream daisy-chained element of the example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the example distributor <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> includes any number and/or type(s) of upstream optical interface modules, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>215</b>. The previous daisy-chained element can be either (a) the SAI <b>105</b> when the pedestal <b>115</b>-<b>117</b> that implements the distributor <b>125</b> is the closest pedestal <b>115</b> to the SAI <b>105</b>, or (b) another pedestal <b>115</b>-<b>117</b>. To communicatively couple the distributor <b>125</b> to a subsequent, next and/or downstream daisy-chained element of the example access network <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the example distributor <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> includes any number and/or type(s) of downstream optical interface modules, one of which is designated at reference numeral <b>220</b>. An example manner of implementing the example optical interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is described below in connection with <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

In some examples, the upstream and downstream optical interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> are communicatively coupled via an optical by-pass <b>222</b> that routes one or more optical signals directly between the interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b>. For example, when multiple wavelengths are used on at least one of an optical fiber segment <b>120</b>-<b>123</b>, a portion of the wavelengths may be bypassed via the example optical bypass <b>220</b> while remaining wavelengths are converted to conducted electrical signals to facilitate switching by the example switch <b>205</b>.

To communicatively couple the distributor <b>125</b> to one or more customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b>, the example distributor <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> includes a transceiver and/or CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> for each customer premises <b>110</b> and <b>111</b> served by the distributor <b>125</b>. The example communication interface module <b>210</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> transports user data to and/or from the example customer premises <b>110</b> using a DSL-based signal, an Ethernet-based signal, an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) signal, a plain old telephone service (POTS) signal, a digital signal 1 (DS1) signal, etc. via the drop wire <b>135</b>. Alternatively, the example communication interface module <b>210</b> transports user data to the example customer premises <b>110</b> using an optical signal over a fiber optic cable <b>135</b>, and/or via a wireless communication path implemented in accordance with, for example, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16x (a.k.a., WiMax) technology, a PicoCell technology, a wireless access point technology, and/or a FemtoCell technology. The example CPE communication interface module and/or transceiver <b>210</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> may be implemented, for example, in accordance with any past, present and/or future standard, specification and/or recommendation related to the transmission of communication services via wires, cables or fibers, such as any of the International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Sector (ITU-T) G.991.x family of recommendations for symmetric DSL (SDSL), the ITU-T G.992.x family of recommendations for asymmetric DSL (ADSL), the ITU-T G.993.x family of recommendations for very high-speed DSL (VDSL) and VDSL2, the IEEE 802.3x family of standards for Ethernet, the ITU-T G.998.x family of recommendations for bonding of DSL lines, the IEEE 802.3ad standard for link aggregation, the ITU-T G.984 recommendation for Gigabit-capable passive optical networks (GPONs), the IEEE 802.15x family of standards, the IEEE 802.16x family of standards, and/or the IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX or 1000BASE-BX standards for Ethernet over optical fibers. Additionally or alternatively, the CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> implements and/or includes an analog telephone adapter (ATA) to provide a POTS service to a customer premises.

To route data between the example interface modules <b>210</b>, <b>215</b> and <b>220</b>, the example distributor <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> includes the example Ethernet switch and/or Ethernet hub <b>205</b>. The example Ethernet switch <b>205</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> implements an add/drop multiplexer for the example distributor <b>125</b>. In particular, the example Ethernet switch <b>205</b> repeats Ethernet frames and/or packets received via the upstream optical interface module <b>215</b> to the downstream optical interface module <b>220</b>, and repeats Ethernet frames and/or packets received via the downstream optical interface module <b>220</b> to the upstream optical interface module <b>215</b>. The example Ethernet switch <b>205</b> adds Ethernet frames and/or data received from the customer premises <b>110</b> via the example CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> to the Ethernet frames and/or data being transmitted via the upstream optical interface module <b>215</b> (for example, received from the downstream optical interface module <b>220</b>). Likewise, when Ethernet data and/or frames that are addressed to the transceiver <b>145</b> at the customer premises <b>110</b> are received via the upstream optical interface module <b>215</b>, the example Ethernet switch <b>205</b> routes the received Ethernet data and/or frames to the CPE interface module <b>210</b> and does not transmit them via the downstream optical interface module <b>220</b>.

While an example manner of implementing the example distributors <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> has been illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example Ethernet switch <b>205</b>, the example interface modules <b>210</b>, <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> and/or, more generally, the example distributor <b>125</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any or all of the example Ethernet switch <b>205</b>, the example interface modules <b>210</b>, <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> and/or, more generally, the example distributor <b>125</b> may be implemented by one or more device(s), circuit(s), programmable processor(s), ASIC(s), PLD(s) and/or FPLD(s), etc. Further still, a distributor may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices. For example, if a distributor is coupled to more than one downstream pedestal, the pedestal-based distributor may implement a downstream optical interface module <b>220</b> for each downstream pedestal.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates an example manner of implementing the optical interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. While the example device of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be used to implement either of the optical interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b>, for ease of discussion, the example device of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> will be referred to as the optical interface module <b>215</b>. To form, generate, create, transmit, receive, decode, and/or transport optical signals via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>, the example upstream communication interface module <b>215</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> implements any type of optical add drop multiplexer <b>305</b>. The example optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) <b>305</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> routes optical signals received via the example fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) to an optical-to-electrical converter <b>310</b> and/or to the example optical bypass <b>222</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>). Likewise, the example OADM <b>305</b> routes optical signals received from an electrical-to-optical converter <b>315</b> and/or from the example optical bypass <b>222</b> to the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>. Where optical signals are routed to and/or received from within the example optical interface module <b>215</b> depends on, for example, how optical signals are utilized, allocated and/or provisioned within the example access network <b>100</b>. For example, if a single wavelength fiber optic cable <b>120</b> is used, all optical signals received via the fiber optic cable <b>120</b> could converted by the example optical-to-electrical converter <b>310</b> and the OADM <b>305</b> could be eliminated. Additionally or alternatively, if a multi-wavelength fiber optic cable <b>120</b> is used, one or more wavelengths could be converted via the example optical-to-electrical converter <b>310</b> while additional wavelengths are bypassed via the optical bypass <b>222</b>.

The example optical-to-electrical converter <b>310</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> converts optical signals provided by the example OADM <b>305</b> into an electrical form suitable for switching the example switch <b>205</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>). Likewise, the example electrical-to-optical converter <b>315</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> converts electrical signals received from the switch <b>205</b> into optical signals suitable for transport via the fiber optic cable segment <b>120</b>.

While an example manner of implementing the example optical interface modules <b>215</b> and <b>220</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> has been illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example OADM <b>305</b> and/or the example converters <b>310</b> and <b>315</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any or all of the example OADM <b>305</b> and/or the example converters <b>310</b> and <b>315</b> may be implemented by one or more device(s), circuit(s), programmable processor(s), ASIC(s), PLD(s) and/or FPLD(s), etc. Further still, a communication interface module may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a flowchart representative of example processes that may be carried out to deploy a fiber optic based access network in a brown field environment. The example process may also be carried out to deploy a fiber optic based access network in a green field environment. The order of execution of the example blocks of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be changed, and/or one or more of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, sub-divided, or combined. Additionally, any or all of the example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> may be carried out sequentially and/or carried out in parallel by, for example, different installers and/or technicians. For ease of understanding, the example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> will be described with reference to the illustrated examples of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A-5D</figref>.

The example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> begins when a customer premises <b>505</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>) requests a high data rate communication service requiring a fiber optic based access network to a pedestal <b>510</b> associated with the customer premises <b>505</b>. If the pedestal <b>510</b> does not already have an installed distributor <b>125</b> (block <b>405</b>), the example process determines whether the pedestal <b>510</b> is already passed with an existing fiber optic cable segment (block <b>410</b>).

If the pedestal <b>510</b> is not passed by an existing fiber optic cable (block <b>410</b>), a fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> is installed between the pedestal <b>510</b> and an SAI <b>515</b> or to the closest upstream pedestal to which a fiber optic cable segment has already been extended (block <b>415</b>). As illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, because the fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> passes a second pedestal <b>525</b>, the fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> is looped into and/or passed through the pedestal <b>525</b>. A distributor <b>125</b> is installed at the pedestal <b>510</b> (block <b>420</b>). A CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) is installed and/or activated at the distributor <b>125</b> for the customer premises <b>505</b> using either an existing and/or newly installed drop cable <b>522</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) (block <b>425</b>). Control then exits from the example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

Returning to block <b>410</b>, if a customer premises <b>530</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref>) associated with the example pedestal <b>525</b> that is already passed by the fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> requests a high data rate communication service requiring a fiber optic based access network to the pedestal <b>525</b> (block <b>410</b>), the fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> is tapped into and/or split into two fiber optic cable segments <b>535</b> and <b>540</b> (block <b>430</b>). A distributor <b>125</b> is then installed at the pedestal <b>525</b> between the fiber optic cable segments <b>535</b> and <b>540</b>, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> (block <b>420</b>). In some examples, when the fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> is looped into and/or passed through the example pedestal <b>525</b> (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>), the example fiber optic cable segment <b>520</b> is cut at the pedestal <b>525</b> and optical connectors are installed. The optical connectors are then attached to a pass-through and/or passive optical device to construct the example topology of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>. As illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref>, such pre-installed connectors can facilitate the subsequent installation of a distributor <b>125</b> at the pedestal <b>525</b>.

Returning to block <b>405</b>, if a customer premises <b>550</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5C</figref>) associated with the example pedestal <b>510</b> already having an installed distributor <b>125</b> requests a high data rate communication service requiring a fiber optic based access network to the pedestal <b>510</b> (block <b>405</b>), a CPE communication interface module <b>210</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) is installed and/or activated at the distributor <b>125</b> for the customer premises <b>550</b> using either an existing and/or newly installed drop cable <b>555</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) (block <b>425</b>). Control then exits from the example process of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

As illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5D</figref>, if a customer premises <b>570</b> associated with a pedestal <b>560</b> not having a distributor <b>125</b> (block <b>405</b>) and not already served by a fiber optic cable (block <b>410</b>) requests a high data rate communication service requiring a fiber optic based access network to the pedestal <b>560</b>, a fiber optic cable segment <b>565</b> is installed between the pedestal <b>560</b> and the closest upstream pedestal <b>510</b> to which a fiber optic cable segment has already been extended (block <b>415</b>), and a distributor installed at the pedestal <b>560</b>. If the fiber optic cable segment <b>565</b> passes another pedestal, the fiber optic cable segment <b>565</b> would be looped into and/or passed through the passed pedestal.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.